November 1, 2013

“The Pink Elephant”

This newsletter is published by Chattanooga’s Tennessee Valley Republican Women’s (TVRW) Club which normally meets monthly on the 3rd Tuesdays at 6 p.m. at the Hamilton County GOP Headquarters (there is an adjustment this month, however) . Please “like” us on Facebook: Tennessee Valley Republican Women. If you have an article, event to publicize, cartoon, or opinion you would like to offer the readership, please email or call the editor, Carol Grohn, at carolgrohn@gmail.com 423/243-8234, regarding submission. Please do forward this newsletter to others and invite them to come with you to the next meeting! **NOTE: Products, services, and topics in our club newsletters are for informational purposes only and do

not necessarily represent endorsement by Tennessee Valley Republican Women, nor any of the members of

the group.

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Table of Contents:

*Crangle’s Chatter page 1 *Resolution to End Forced Annexation page 2 *A Grin page 2 *A Primer on Common Core page 3-4 *Quote of the month - Charlie Daniels page 4 *Local Scene: Once There Were Greenfields… page 4-5

*Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn in the news page 5-6 *Favorite Ways to Thank a Veteran page 6 *November Calendar page 7 ********************************************************************************************** Crangle’s Chatter: Pamper Garner Crangle, President, Tennessee Valley Republican Women’s Group The biennial convention of the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women was held in Kingsport, TN on October 18-19, 2013. We had great speakers and learned so much, but the most important accomplishment of the weekend for us in Hamilton County was the unanimous vote to pass our resolution to End Forced Annexation. This means that Republican Women organizations from across the State of Tennessee are in unanimous agreement on this Resolution! The resolution in its entirety is shown below. This is in support of Representative Mike Carter’s efforts to pass legislation that would require that citizens have the right to vote on whether their property is going to be annexed. To follow this effort, “like” the Facebook page, Tennesseans Against Forced Annexation. This next year, our TVRW club will be more focused on advocacy efforts regarding proposed legislation. We will also be working on various campaigns, with the goal of gaining back the Senate and electing Conservatives to elected offices. Come and join us! We need you! --Pamper

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Resolution for Consideration by the

Tennessee Federation of Republican Women

Ending Forced Annexation in Tennessee WHEREAS, Tennessee is one of only three states in the United States that allows the annexing of a citizen’s property by city ordinance, without a referendum or other statutory protection for those living in the area to be annexed; and WHEREAS, Despite having an option for referendum provided in the annexation statute, cities rarely, if ever, allow a referendum and instead exercise only the ordinance method of annexation, ignoring the rights and, many times, wills of county residents; WHEREAS, The forced annexation of a citizen’s rural home or farm could cause the loss of the same due to higher city taxes, or the cessation of such rural activities as farming or ranching due to city regulations; and WHEREAS, Tennessee citizens have long valued the rights of homeowners and farmers to have a voice and a vote in matters affecting their property; and WHEREAS, Cities desiring growth should be required to hold a referendum of the affected residents before any annexation of homes or farms is allowed to take place. RESOLVED, that the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women, meeting at its bi-annual convention in Kingsport, Tennessee, October 18-20, 2013, requests the Tennessee General Assembly to support legislation declaring that no annexation of homes or farms be allowed without a referendum giving the citizens a voice in approving such action, so that Tennessee will be removed from the stigma of being one of only three states in the United States depriving their citizens of the right to vote on this important issue. Submitted by: Tennessee Valley Republican Women Republican Women of Wilson County **************************************************************************************************

Need a grin? A sweet elderly lady in the next pew said a sincere prayer.

"Dear Lord, This has been a tough five or six years. You have taken my favorite actor

Patrick Swayze; my favorite musician Michael Jackson; my favorite blues singer Amy Winehouse;

my favorite actress Elizabeth Taylor; my favorite singer Whitney Houston; and now my

favorite author Tom Clancy! I just wanted you to know that my favorite politicians are

Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid. Amen." *********************************************************************

PASSED!

November 1, 2013

“The Pink Elephant”

A Primer on Common Core: What is all the commotion about???

www.tnacc.net Thanks to Karen Bracken for providing this information * karen.bracken@reagan.com

If you are interested in making calls, sending emails, going to Nashville events related to defeating Common Core, then Karen would like to hear from you. Many plans, so much to do.

What is the Common Core?

Educators have described it as No Child Left Behind on steroids! In layman’s terms, the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSSI) is a set of national K-12 standards developed primarily by a nonprofit called Achieve, Inc., in Washington, D.C. under the auspices of the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The Common Core was developed without state legislative authority.

Common Core: Centralized Educational Control Destroys Federalism By hooking states into the Common Core with Race-to-the-Top grant funds and linking the Common Core to No Child Left Behind waivers, the federal government is acting as the “enforcer” to herd states into the “one-size-fits-all” Common Core -- in spite of the fact that three federal laws prohibit the federal government from guiding the educational curriculum of the states. Not only the U.S. Constitution, but state constitutions maintain that education is a power reserved to the states and their citizens. Yet, the Common Core cannot be changed by state legislatures or state school boards.

Common Core: Education Without Representation or Parental Input Taxpayers pay hundreds of billions in state and local taxes per year for K-12 education. Yet, the Common Core guarantees taxpayers and parents NO VOICE in math and English content standards of their states and thus no control over what children will learn in these subjects. In fact, most states agreed to implement the Common Core before the standards were even released, all without state legislative approval or even public hearings.

Common Core: Intrusive Data Tracking The Common Core ensures that the states build expensive high-tech systems that will track student performance and other personal data and provide that information to the federal government. “Hopefully, some day, we can track children from preschool to high school and from high school to college and college to career.” - U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, from a June 8, 2009 speech

Common Core: Exorbitant Price Tag

The unfunded mandates associated with the Common Core are open-ended in areas such as professional development, new textbooks and instructional materials, testing, and data-tracking systems. A recent study shows implementation will cost $16 billion or more nationwide, with about 90 percent of this paid for by states and local districts, despite the $4.35 billion Race to the Top grants. The Common Core fuels a money pot of tax dollars going to pre-selected vendors.

Where Things Stand

In the Nation – Only a few states have turned a cold shoulder to the federal grants and waivers requiring Common Core, but that is changing. ● Texas, Nebraska, and Alaska refused to participate. ● Indiana’s Senate Education Committee is considering legislation to withdraw from Common Core. ● South Carolina has legislation pending to pull out of the Common Core supported by the Governor. ● Virginia has pulled out of the Common Core, and Minnesota has refused to sign on to the math portion. ● Utah and Alabama have withdrawn from the assessment consortium aligned with the Common Core and will be holding legislative hearings on withdrawing from the Common Core itself. ● South Dakota has slowed down the implementation of the Common Core with the passage of a bill that requires public hearings around the state.

Pushing Back – Patriot activists, as they discover the truth about the Common Core, are ramping up efforts to reclaim local control over education. Movements are afoot in Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Missouri, and New Hampshire. The issue

November 1, 2013

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received extensive attention in prominent author Stanley Kurtz's new book, Spreading the Wealth: How Obama Is Robbing the Suburbs to Pay for the Cities, and national education commentators are beginning to marvel at the Common Core pushback. The undercover effort to impose the Common Core is beginning to wither in the light of day.

Sub-standard Standards of the Common Core

English Language Arts (ELA) Standards – Dr. Sandra Stotsky of the University of Arkansas served on the Common Core Validation Committee but refused to sign off on the ELA standards because of poor quality, empty skill sets, the de-emphasis on literature, and low reading levels, such as 8

th grade levels for 12

th grade students. Even the Fordham

Institute – a Common Core proponent – admitted that some states already had better standards than the Common Core. Math Standards – Dr. James Milgram of Stanford University, the only mathematician on the Common Core Validation Committee, refused to sign off, stating, “It’s almost a joke to think students [who master the common standards] would be ready for math at a university.” Next on the Common Core Agenda – Expect the feds to aggressively push adoption of national standards in science and social studies, just as they have in English and math.

Take Action Tell your legislators to stop the Common Core. Connect at Tennessee Against Common Core www.tnacc.net (flyer created by stopcommoncore.com)

****************************************************************************************************** Quote of the month: And when you stop and think about the power America has placed in the hands of the federal government, with no checks and balances, that can't in one way or another be manipulated by

visible or invisible powers, it will dawn on you just how dangerous and freedom-threatening a clumsy,

gluttonous, monolithic, central government really is. Charlie Daniels - See more at:

http://cnsnews.com/commentary/charlie-daniels/real-halloween-scare

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“Once there were green fields…” so the song goes. A brownfield though? Whattsup?

EPA has selected The Enterprise Center, Inc. as a Brownfield Area-Wide Planning grant recipient. The Enterprise Center, working with the community, the City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and many other key stakeholders, will develop a brownfield area-wide plan and implementation strategy for the 3rd Street Corridor. Currently the 3rd Street Corridor is a blend of large institutions, small neighborhoods, and historic landmarks, and includes a 17-acre Cannon/Cumberland

http://www.tnacc.net/http://cnsnews.com/commentary/charlie-daniels/real-halloween-scarehttp://www.townhallmail.com/cptrtsngrrjftgrgfgtpnfkllmfllgmnqqpsztjjcpgmdc_pmmhvvvdhqd.html

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industrial brownfield site. Through community involvement and existing conditions research, The Enterprise Center will develop brownfield site reuse plans that will help guide redevelopment in the area toward a multifaceted medical cluster that will encompass healthcare delivery, higher learning, research and manufacturing. Key partners include the City of Chattanooga, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Fort Wood Neighborhood Association, Hamilton County, and various other business, neighborhood, and nonprofit groups.

Brownfields are real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. In 2010, EPA launched the Brownfields Area-Wide Planning (BF AWP) program as a pilot program with the goal of broadening the approach that communities take with existing Brownfields grant programs. With this second round of grant funding, EPA has now awarded approximately $8 million to 43 communities. The number of brownfields in Chattanooga may astound you. The locations may also. Click on the following link to see a list of these properties. This is a huge taxpayer expense, despite federal grants.

http://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/cimc/f?p=100:35:4214427012690:::35:P35_BF_ASSESS_IND,P35_BF_ASSESS_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_CLEANUP_IND,P35_BF_RLF_IND,P35_BF_RLF_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_128A_IND,P35_BF_TBA_IND,P35_FF_BRAC_IND,P35_FF_RCRA_IND,P35_FF_SF_IND,P35_RCRA_CURRENT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_SEL_IND,P35_RCRA_CONSTR_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_NYS_IND,P35_SF_NPL_CODE,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_F,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_D,P35_STIMULUS_SF_IND,P35_STIMULUS_BF_IND,P35_State_code,P35_city_name,P35_BASIC_QUERY:Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,P,F,D,Y,Y,TN,chattanooga,undefined ***********************************************************************************************************

Brentwood Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn wasted no time in grilling the Secretary of Health and Human Services today. Kathleen Sebelius testified before the House Energy and Commerce Committee about problems with the HealthCare.gov website.

Most of the Republican lawmakers at today’s hearing started their questions by graciously thanking Secretary Sebelius for testifying. But Blackburn launched right in, saying hundreds of thousands nationwide are losing health insurance because of Obamacare.

The blistering pace continued for four and a half minutes. Blackburn ended by asking the secretary who at her agency is responsible for the launch of HealthCare.gov, which led to this exchange:

Blackburn: At that team, who is the individual…?

Sebelius: Michelle Snyder

Blackburn: Michelle Snyder is responsible for this debacle!

Tennessee Congresswoman Marsha

Blackburn

held Kathleen Sebelius’ feet to the fire and didn’t let up—whereby the Secretary of Health and Human Services assigned herself the responsibility for the Obamacare debacle. Way to deliver, Congresswoman Blackburn. You make Tennessee proud! At least SOMEone finally admitted that something went wrong—terribly wrong! Now can we get rid of it?

http://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/cimc/f?p=100:35:4214427012690:::35:P35_BF_ASSESS_IND,P35_BF_ASSESS_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_CLEANUP_IND,P35_BF_RLF_IND,P35_BF_RLF_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_128A_IND,P35_BF_TBA_IND,P35_FF_BRAC_IND,P35_FF_RCRA_IND,P35_FF_SF_IND,P35_RCRA_CURRENT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_SEL_IND,P35_RCRA_CONSTR_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_NYS_IND,P35_SF_NPL_CODE,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_F,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_D,P35_STIMULUS_SF_IND,P35_STIMULUS_BF_IND,P35_State_code,P35_city_name,P35_BASIC_QUERY:Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,P,F,D,Y,Y,TN,chattanooga,undefinedhttp://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/cimc/f?p=100:35:4214427012690:::35:P35_BF_ASSESS_IND,P35_BF_ASSESS_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_CLEANUP_IND,P35_BF_RLF_IND,P35_BF_RLF_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_128A_IND,P35_BF_TBA_IND,P35_FF_BRAC_IND,P35_FF_RCRA_IND,P35_FF_SF_IND,P35_RCRA_CURRENT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_SEL_IND,P35_RCRA_CONSTR_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_NYS_IND,P35_SF_NPL_CODE,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_F,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_D,P35_STIMULUS_SF_IND,P35_STIMULUS_BF_IND,P35_State_code,P35_city_name,P35_BASIC_QUERY:Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,P,F,D,Y,Y,TN,chattanooga,undefinedhttp://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/cimc/f?p=100:35:4214427012690:::35:P35_BF_ASSESS_IND,P35_BF_ASSESS_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_CLEANUP_IND,P35_BF_RLF_IND,P35_BF_RLF_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_128A_IND,P35_BF_TBA_IND,P35_FF_BRAC_IND,P35_FF_RCRA_IND,P35_FF_SF_IND,P35_RCRA_CURRENT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_SEL_IND,P35_RCRA_CONSTR_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_NYS_IND,P35_SF_NPL_CODE,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_F,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_D,P35_STIMULUS_SF_IND,P35_STIMULUS_BF_IND,P35_State_code,P35_city_name,P35_BASIC_QUERY:Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,P,F,D,Y,Y,TN,chattanooga,undefinedhttp://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/cimc/f?p=100:35:4214427012690:::35:P35_BF_ASSESS_IND,P35_BF_ASSESS_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_CLEANUP_IND,P35_BF_RLF_IND,P35_BF_RLF_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_128A_IND,P35_BF_TBA_IND,P35_FF_BRAC_IND,P35_FF_RCRA_IND,P35_FF_SF_IND,P35_RCRA_CURRENT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_SEL_IND,P35_RCRA_CONSTR_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_NYS_IND,P35_SF_NPL_CODE,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_F,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_D,P35_STIMULUS_SF_IND,P35_STIMULUS_BF_IND,P35_State_code,P35_city_name,P35_BASIC_QUERY:Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,P,F,D,Y,Y,TN,chattanooga,undefinedhttp://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/cimc/f?p=100:35:4214427012690:::35:P35_BF_ASSESS_IND,P35_BF_ASSESS_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_CLEANUP_IND,P35_BF_RLF_IND,P35_BF_RLF_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_128A_IND,P35_BF_TBA_IND,P35_FF_BRAC_IND,P35_FF_RCRA_IND,P35_FF_SF_IND,P35_RCRA_CURRENT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_SEL_IND,P35_RCRA_CONSTR_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_NYS_IND,P35_SF_NPL_CODE,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_F,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_D,P35_STIMULUS_SF_IND,P35_STIMULUS_BF_IND,P35_State_code,P35_city_name,P35_BASIC_QUERY:Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,P,F,D,Y,Y,TN,chattanooga,undefinedhttp://ofmpub.epa.gov/apex/cimc/f?p=100:35:4214427012690:::35:P35_BF_ASSESS_IND,P35_BF_ASSESS_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_CLEANUP_IND,P35_BF_RLF_IND,P35_BF_RLF_PILOT_IND,P35_BF_128A_IND,P35_BF_TBA_IND,P35_FF_BRAC_IND,P35_FF_RCRA_IND,P35_FF_SF_IND,P35_RCRA_CURRENT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_SEL_IND,P35_RCRA_CONSTR_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_COMPLT_IND,P35_RCRA_REMEDY_NYS_IND,P35_SF_NPL_CODE,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_F,P35_SF_NPL_CODE_D,P35_STIMULUS_SF_IND,P35_STIMULUS_BF_IND,P35_State_code,P35_city_name,P35_BASIC_QUERY:Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,P,F,D,Y,Y,TN,chattanooga,undefined

November 1, 2013

“The Pink Elephant”

Sebelius: Well, excuse me Congresswoman, Michelle Snyder is not responsible for the debacle. Hold me accountable

for the debacle. I’m responsible.

Several GOP lawmakers, including Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander and Congressman Steven Fincher, have called on Sebelius to resign.

Source: http://nashvillepublicradio.org/blog/2013/10/30/after-grilling-from-tn-congressman-health-secretary-says-hold-me-accountable-for-healthcare-gov-problems/ ************************************************************************************************

Veterans Day is always November 11th. Here is a website with a list of 101 ways we can thank our

veterans—as if YOU need such a list. http://ht.ly/1zHxcF. Here are some of my favorites:

*Call them. A grandparent, uncle, aunt, mother, father. Take the time to call them, especially if they live far

away, and find out how they are doing.

*Send a note to your local school to urge the teachers to discuss Veterans Day. Visit Veterans' Day Teacher

Resource Guide for some tips. Did you know November is also Military Family Month? By thanking the family,

you thank the Veteran.

*Nearly 40 percent of our veteran population is 65 or older, give a veteran your phone number and ask them

to call if they need help around the house. Make a note to call them this winter to see what they need.

*Have your children or grandchildren paint a picture or write a letter. Send it to any relative that is a Veteran.

* Do a random act of kindness for a vet or their family. Remain anonymous. ;-)

http://nashvillepublicradio.org/blog/2013/10/30/after-grilling-from-tn-congressman-health-secretary-says-hold-me-accountable-for-healthcare-gov-problems/http://nashvillepublicradio.org/blog/2013/10/30/after-grilling-from-tn-congressman-health-secretary-says-hold-me-accountable-for-healthcare-gov-problems/http://ht.ly/1zHxcFhttp://militaryblog.militaryavenue.com/2009/11/veterans-day-teacher-resource-guide.htmlhttp://militaryblog.militaryavenue.com/2009/11/veterans-day-teacher-resource-guide.html

November 1, 2013

“The Pink Elephant”

November 2013

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Nightside Pachyderm: Every 2nd and 4th Thursday evening at 6 p.m., Western Sizzlin’, Ooltewah Daytime Pachyderm: Every Monday at noon, “Our House” at HCGOP Headquarters. RSVP for lunch. Tennessee Valley Republican Women’s regular monthly meeting, 3rd Tuesday evening of each month, 6 p.m., HCGOP Headquarters, 1428 Chestnut Street, Ste E, Chattanooga, TN 37402 – RSVP for supper by emailing tennesseevalleyrepublicanwomen@gmail.com Hamilton County Republican Women’s regular monthly meeting, Morning Pointe of Hixson (alternative women’s group for women who cannot attend our scheduled evening meetings). RSVP for lunch by emailing patsylhenry@hotmail.com

mailto:tennesseevalleyrepublicanwomen@gmail.commailto:patsylhenry@hotmail.com